Only Murders’s Michael Cyril Creighton Thinks He’s the Killer Every Season

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Howard Morris is a truly endearing friend, and it’s easy to see why anyone would want him in their life. On Only Murders in the Building, he’s always eager to help Charles, Oliver, and Mabel with their investigations, but they often dismiss him when things get serious. This season, hoping for companionship, Howard bonds with L.E.S.T.R., the robot who replaced the doorman Lester. L.E.S.T.R. even offers Howard a fun app to experiment with different beard looks! Unfortunately, their friendship doesn’t last long, as L.E.S.T.R.’s programming compels him to become loyal to Camila, a wealthy woman who purchases the Arconia building and plans to turn it into a casino.

Charles feels sorry for the grieving Howard, and they finally have a private conversation during a farewell party in the building. Howard confesses he’s envious of the close relationship between the three main investigators. He explains that his mother’s death left a void, and while he knew the robot he relied on didn’t truly care, it was comforting to have a companion. This conversation helps both Howard and the investigation. He notices a mark in Charles’s apartment that matches those left by his mother’s scooter, leading them to suspect the head of the Caccimelio crime family. This discovery ultimately points to New York mayor Beau Tillman as the murderer – a dramatic twist coinciding with a tense mayoral election. Finally, it’s Howard who pushes the investigative trio to consider a new mystery when they find the body of podcaster Cinda Canning, leaving them to figure out if she died inside the Arconia building or just outside its entrance.

Let’s not overthink things. Creighton knew the writers of Only Murders in the Building might send him in any direction, but he deliberately avoided asking about the plot. “I genuinely don’t want to know what’s going to happen,” he says. “I prefer to figure it out as the story unfolds.”

There were moments this season where I worried about Howard, particularly because of his intense focus on the doorman robot. His usually kind personality would sometimes become unpleasant, and I was interested to hear how those changes were explained to you and how you continued to believe in his character. I mostly took things as they came and tried to understand what was happening. I recall Jackie Hoffman noticing a shift while we were filming with the robot – she said he didn’t seem like the same person anymore. I just kept trusting the writers and hoping it would all make sense in the end.

At the beginning of the season, he seemed like a completely different character. He’s always been someone who craves connection and acceptance, even if he often fumbles at it. But in the early episodes, he was pushing people away and relying on technology to cope with feeling alone, and I suspected that approach wouldn’t end well for him.

The conversation between Howard and Charles in episode nine was incredibly emotional and revealing for both characters, especially when Howard confessed he always felt like an outsider in the building, unlike Charles. It makes you wonder how his neighbors saw him initially, and how that perception has evolved over the five seasons.

Personally, that conversation was a turning point for me as a viewer. I hadn’t realized Howard had broken up with his boyfriend – a relationship I really enjoyed, and I’m a big fan of the actor who played him. It was a surprising and sad reveal, and it suddenly explained a lot about Howard’s behavior, not just this season, but throughout the entire series. Our showrunner often says the writers can give me any storyline and I’ll embrace it, but that script finally brought everything into focus. It was refreshing to see Howard be so vulnerable and authentic for a change.

This character is complex and puts on a show to hide how vulnerable and lonely he really is – it’s his way of dealing with things. But we haven’t really seen his true self until now. I especially loved hearing him speak honestly. Initially, he seemed quirky, attention-seeking, and a bit of a gossip. Over time, his character has become much more layered, even within single episodes. The other three have started to truly appreciate him. He desperately wants to be accepted by them, so his outburst – claiming he was finished with them and didn’t need their help – felt like a bluff. It was great to see him finally valued, because he’s always searching for something he’s good at, and hasn’t found it yet. Ironically, he’s become skilled at being the supportive friend, the ‘fourth wheel.’ And this season, he finally has a moment of success and gets the validation he’s been craving from the group. That’s all he wants.

I believe he’s capable of much more than just being an extra person! He’s persistent and a fantastic team player in the yodel-shop group – though I’m not sure about his yodeling skills. He’s a bit like a mascot, and I think he’d make a great friend if given the opportunity, which he’s starting to realize. I’m confident he’d also be a wonderful partner.

Is Howard hoping to join Mabel, Oliver, and Charles as a host on their podcast? Showing up during Cinda Channing’s death was a good move if that’s his plan. It was a welcome surprise to see him there, especially after his great storyline earlier in the season. It clearly signaled that his story isn’t finished. He really wants to be accepted as one of the group and believes he could be a valuable asset to the podcast, but they haven’t really given him an opportunity yet.

It was a huge moment for Howard to find that important connection between the scooter and the evidence, and help solve part of the case. He’s always struggling with new projects – his documentary filmmaking wasn’t very successful, and his podcast never really took off. So, to see him contribute something genuinely useful, a really good clue, especially one linked to his mother, was a total surprise and really meaningful.

I initially expected a very difficult relationship between Howard and his mother, based on past comments she’d made – she once described his voice as harsh and said she didn’t want to see him perform again. However, a recent flashback episode revealed surprisingly sweet moments between them, exceeding my expectations. Even in just ten seconds of footage, their connection felt incredibly tender, complex, and fascinating. Those brief scenes clarified so much about his character – his loneliness stems from losing his mother, and his success in this episode feels like a tribute to her. It all felt like a complete, three-part story arc.

You’ve shared scenes with a lot of animal actors – dogs, cats, and even a pig! How does L.E.S.T.R., the robot, compare to them as a scene partner? I adore working with animals, even though they can be unpredictable. They’re just so cute! I’ve had a pig pee on me and worked with a pretty feisty cat, but dogs are generally sweethearts. They’re all animals, though – you can connect with them through their eyes and enjoy petting their soft fur. L.E.S.T.R., on the other hand, doesn’t have a sense of comedic timing and lacks that connection. It’s actually more difficult to act alongside a robot than it is with an animal. I did my best with it, but honestly, even the peeing pig was easier to work with!

In the movie, Nathan Lane’s character directly asks Howard if he’s having sex with the robot, but the question is never answered. If I were Howard, I’d probably avoid a direct response. There’s a clear emotional connection, and the robot seems to be helping him become more open to relationships with people.

Seriously, I have to say, congrats on being the first person to actually pull off flirting while talking about starching machines! I mean, I don’t think anyone has ever even tried that before. It’s kind of amazing, really – I guess I’m breaking new ground here!

It was a complete surprise to see Howard and Vinnie connect at the dry cleaner! I really like Evan Mulrooney, the actor who plays Vinnie, and I hadn’t even known he was on the show until the finale – we didn’t have any scenes together before that. I’d been following him on Instagram for ages, though. Honestly, I didn’t predict their relationship at all. I was just glad Howard got a fun, carefree moment with someone after everything that happened. I never try to guess what will happen with storylines, so I can’t say if it’ll work out. Dating the son of a mobster probably isn’t a recipe for success, but I’m open to seeing where it goes. Howard is always willing to try new things, even if he’s not very good at them! I’m hoping we get to see more of Howard and Vinnie as a couple.

We were trying to decide which cardigan was the most revealing. There was a moment when I was wearing a sweater vest alone, and I realized it was too much – we didn’t need to see that much skin. But then we found the cardigan – the one Howard would definitely consider inappropriate. It’s a delicate, white, slightly see-through cardigan with little eyelet details. I actually really like it!

There’s a lot of attention right now on the fight between several wealthy individuals to build a casino in New York City. But personally, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I know myself – I get completely hooked on slot machines! I once had to be physically pulled out of a casino by my mom and aunt. If a casino were built here, it would be disastrous for me. We have plenty happening already, and I’d much prefer to see another beautiful Broadway theater.

I often wonder how safe Howard is – will he ever become a murderer, or be a victim himself? For a while, a lot of viewers suspected me as a potential killer, but that seems to have faded. It would be devastating if Howard were to die. I’ve always been in a strange position where fans suspect me, but also really care about my character. Every season, I genuinely feel like Howard could either be the killer or get killed. That’s why I prefer not knowing the plot in advance – I don’t want to give anything away, and I like being surprised. Actually, this season we filmed the very last scene early on, so I knew what happened in the end sooner than usual. But even so, I thought I might be killed off until around episode five. While it would be heartbreaking for the audience, it would definitely create a compelling mystery.

If that happens, you might experience a lot of flashbacks, or end up like Paul Rudd’s stunt double – quickly replaced. Honestly, I think getting killed off isn’t the worst thing that could happen on the show. Being a murderer is far worse, because that usually means you’re finished. Unless you’re Amy Ryan, you rarely get a second chance.

The show’s sixth season is heading to London, and it will be interesting to see how Howard adapts. This move will finally allow us to see his true personality shine. He’s a fan of comfortable sweaters, and London’s tea rooms and bakeries will likely become a new obsession. I imagine him enjoying the art at the Tate Modern and fully embracing the city’s atmosphere. It’s a great fit for him – London is the perfect setting for the kind of cozy, British mysteries he loves, and I think he’ll really flourish there.

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2025-10-29 23:57